A study of the muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in relation to its environment ...

• Main Author: Tener, John Simpson
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2012
• Subjects: Arctic; Lake Hazen; muskox; ovibos moschatus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0106068; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0106068

A study of the muskox (Ovlbos moschatus) in relation to its environment was carried out in the Canadian Arctic between 1952 and 1959. Environmental factors such as climate, soils and summer and winter range vegetation were examined. The numbers, distribution, population structure, behaviour and general biology of muskoxen were studied. Muskoxen live in an Arctic environment of short cool summers, long, cold winters and relatively little snow. Range studies at the southern and northern limits of muskox distribution in Canada revealed major differences in plant species occurrence, annual production and chemical values. The summer ranges in the Thelon Game Sanctuary produced more woody food species than Lake Hazen ranges and were calculated to support as many as seven times the number of muskoxen. Thelon winter ranges may support up to ten times as many muskoxen as Lake Hazen winter ranges of comparable size. Total annual forage production in the Thelon compares favourably with forage production on mountain ...